50 Fun Facts About Cats To Sink Your Claws Into

Bored Panda got in touch with Applied Animal Behaviourist (ACAAB) Julie Posluns of CatSchool.co. CatSchool.co hosts online courses, tools and tutorial videos for easy and fun cat training, not only empowering cat lovers to train their feline friends themselves, but also providing opportunities and activities that allow the two to connect on a deeper level.

We've asked Julie why she thinks cats make such great pets, and she explained that they meet all the criteria that potential owners are often looking for in a pet:

"They have big personalities in small packages and adapt well to our lifestyle. People are attracted to their 'cute' features—their soft fur, sweet faces, and comforting purrs make us want to nurture them. But since cats retain much of their wildness, they captivate us with their intelligence and independent spirit. Sharing our homes with them is amusing, entertaining, and conveniently also makes for great content on social media."

But, getting a cat for the sake of being able to post pics on Instagram should never be the sole purpose of a feline companion at home. Like any other pet, cat companionship is rewarding, but it can also be challenging, as elaborated Julie:

"The goal is to keep our precious pets safe, so having indoor-only cats is becoming more mainstream. However, finding ways to meet an indoor cat's need for exercise and enrichment can be challenging. Playtime, food puzzles and clicker training are a few ways to burn an indoor cat's energy."

Besides this, folks should consider a number of other crucial factors before adopting a cat. At the very least, there's the financial strain of all the various cat foods and carriers and toys you'll need to get and vet visits you'll have to go to. But there's also understanding that you can't go vacationing without a cat-sitter. And, last, but not least, you will have to adapt to a life with a cat as much as the cat will have to adapt to you—so if the little furry friend decides it wants to have an intense jog around your flat 800 times at 3AM, brace yourself.

Julie continued: "Cats are known to be aloof and independent, so when a cat shows us affection and a desire to communicate, it can feel rewarding—who doesn't want to be chosen as a cat's favorite person? Cats also hijack our day in the best way; whether demanding food, playtime or sitting on our computer, these constant companions ensure we take lots of breaks in our workday to entertain them."

And even if you don't have a cat around the house, they can still manage to hijack your time online, like in these 24 times cats surprised humans with their heroic acts, these 114 of the most famous cats on the internet, and these 50 "I don't own a cat" moments.

Now, you'd think that you can't train a cat—remember, a cat can recognize your voice, but more often than not it will ignore it because it supposedly has a higher level of sentience than humans do and you ain't the boss of me. Probably. But just like dogs, it is possible, and Julie elaborates on this:

"Cats are highly trainable, and training will change your relationship, allowing you to take better care of your cat and have a stronger bond. Whether using carrier training to reduce your cat's stress with vet visits or improving your cat's comfort with nail trims, your cat can learn to be a cooperative partner in their care. Training is also an excellent form of feline enrichment; for example, teaching your cat to wear a harness and walk on a leash can be a perfect way to allow them to explore the outside world safely."